Brake beam



0. OTTERSON BRAKE BEAM Sept. 4, 1951 Filed Jan. 10, 1950 Fig.3

Patented Sept. 4,, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,566,744 BRAKE BEAMOscar Ottersdn, Butler, Pa., assignor, by me'sne assignments, toSchaefer Equipment Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application January 10, 1950, Serial No. 137,712 8 Claims.(01. 188-2234) This invention relates to truss type brake beams forrailway cars. i

It is among the objects of this invention to provide such a brake beamin which the tension rod is connected directly to the compression memberso that removal of the brake heads will not disturb the truss, in whichthe brake heads are interchangeable so that they can be mounted oneither end of the truss, and in which separate wedges are used forwedging the brake heads tightly on the ends of the truss.

In accordance with this invention a brake beam truss is formed from acompression member and a tension rod, the rod being in front of thecompression member and having'its ends connected to the ends of thatmember either integrally or byseparate connecting elements. Brake headswith recessed bodies receive the opposite ends of the truss. The backwall surface of each body recess is spaced from the adjacent rearsurface of the compression member. The spaced surfaces are inclinedrelative to each other to provide a tapered space between them. Intothis space a tapered wedge is driven to hold the front wall of the brakehead recess tightly against the front of the compression member. Meansalso are provided for holding the brake heads against movementlengthwise of the compression member.

Preferably, the rear surface of the compression member at each endthereof is inclined lengthwise relative to the front surface of thatmember, and the recesses in the brake heads extend entirely through theheads so that they can be used on either end of the truss. Also, it ispreferred to form the compression member from a channel having upper andlower flanges connected by a web. End portions of the web are removed toform slots extending entirely through the compression member from frontto back, and through which the ends of the tension rod projectrearwardly from the compression member. In such a case the wedges may bebifurcated to straddle the projecting ends of the rod. The ends of thewedges may be bent over to lock them in place.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of oneend of my brake beam truss; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same end; Figs.3 and 4 are views similar. to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, but with thebrake head in place and with the body of the head broken away in Fig. 4;and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view of the beam.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the truss of the brake beamis formed in the usual way from a one-piece compression member, in thiscase a metal channel I, connected at its ends to the ends of a tensionrod 2 whose central portion is spaced from the channel by means of theusual strut (not shown). Only one end of this truss is shown, but itwill be understood that the other end has the same appearance andconstruction. To make the connection between the ends of the tension rodand channel, the ends of the upper and lower flanges of the channelpreferably first are thickened by upsetting the opposite ends of thechannel. The flanges are thickened toward each other, so that thedistance between the upper and lower thickened portions 3 will bereduced. Also, the end portions of the channel web are cut away bynotching the back of the compression member so that a slot 4 withparallel walls is formed in each end of it. Each slot extends entirelythrough the channel from front to back, and is in the plane of the beam.The thick walls 3 of the slot are provided with a pair of axiallyaligned holes that are in line with a similar hole through the tensionrods upset and flattened end which extends into the slot and may projectslightly from the back of it. Each end of the rod is connected to thecorresponding end of the channel by means of a bushing or sleeve 5 thatextends through the aligned holes, but which does not project above orbelow the channel. The lateral pressure on the sleeve, caused by thecamber in the channel, holds the sleeve tightly in place. As shown inFigs. 3, 4 and 5, the brake head on each end of the truss has the usualshoe-supporting portion 1 connected by vertical webs 8 and 9 to acentral body portion Hi. The body portion is recessed to receive an endof the truss. To permit the brake head to be used on either end of thebeam, therecess ll extends entirely through the head and is the samesize and shape at both ends. The upper and lower walls of the recesshave substantially parallel central areas 12 that rest flat againstsimilar areas at the top and bottom of the compression member, but therecess walls diverge from these central areas toward the adjacent endsof the recess. These diverging areas I3 at the inner end of the recessengage similar diverging areas M at the top and bottom of thecompression member and may provide a wedge fit.

The distance from the front to the back of the recess is considerablygreater than the width of the compression member flanges, so that when 3the front wall of the recess engages the front of the compression memberthe back wall of the recess is spaced from the back of that member. Inaccordance with this invention, this space is tapered, preferablylengthwise of the beam. If the brake head is not to be usable on theopposite end of the truss, the tapered space could be provided byinclining the back wall of the recess relative toits front wall, but tomake the heads interchangeable the front and back walls of the recessare made parallel lengthwise and the tapered space is provided byinclining the rear surface of the. compression member lengthwise thereofinside the brake head. Although thiscan be done by tapering the endofthe compression member, it is more advantageous to have the end portionof the compression member diverge laterally toward its end. rear surface16 of the compression member in- 7 side the head is inclined rearwardlyaway from the front surface of that member toward the end of the truss,as shown in Fig. 1. These diverging end portions of the compressionmember can be formed during the upsetting operation that thickens theends of the channel flanges.

The front wallof the brake head recess is held tightly against the frontof the compression memher by means of a tapered wedge I? which is driveninto the tapered space between the brake head and inclined-surface 16 atthe back of the compression member. As the flattened end of the tensionrod projects into this space, the wedge is forked so that it willstraddle the projecting end 'of the rod as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Theends of the forks are made long enough to project beyond the end of thecompression member to permit them to be hammered over its ends; so as tolock the wedge in place. The Wedge assures a tight fit between the headand truss.

The brake head is provided with holes 18 in the top and bottom of itsbody which are in alignment with the opening through sleeve 5 so that asuitable fastening member, such as a rivet or bolt I9, can be insertedin them and the sleeve and held in place by a nut 20. The bolt alsoserves as a solid reinforcing core for the sleeve. The brake head isprovided with two pairs of these holes, spaced equal distances from'theopposite sides of its webs 8 and 9. One pair of holes is aligned withthe sleeve if the head is mounted on one end of the truss, and theother'pair of holes is aligned with the sleeve if the head is mounted onthe oppositeend of the truss. The bolt fits rather loosely in theseholes and is inserted in them and the sleeve, but not drawn up tight,before wedge I? is driven into place. Then the nut is tightened on thebolt. The bolt will prevent the brake head from sliding oil the truss incase the head becomes loose on the truss.

It will be seen that with the beam disclosed herein all of the brakeheads can be made alike, because there is no need for rights and lofts.Any head can be used on either end of the truss. This reduces the stockof heads that a railway has to keep on hand, and also simplifiesreplacement of heads. A worn or broken head can be taken off the trussmerely by removing the retaining bolt and bystraightening or cuttin offthe bent over ends of the wedge'so that the Wedge can be removed. Whenthe head is slipped off the end ofv the truss, the truss will not comeapart, because sleeve 5 will keep the tension rod and channel 1 7connected.

The brakehead is provided witha horizontal slot 22' forreceiving thelower'yoke of the usual In other words, the i 4 brake hanger (notshown). As shown in Fig. 3, the head is inclined a few degrees laterallyso that the shoe which it will carry will engage flat against thetapered car wheel. It is obvious that if the head were placed on theopposite end of the truss, the head would be inclined in the oppositedirection. Because of this fact and the fact that the yokes of thebrakes hangers are parallel to the car' axles, slot 22 has its rearsurface inclined backward and outward from its center toward both endsso that the head can be canted on a hanger yoke, regardless of which endof the truss the head is mounted on.

According .to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have-explainedthe principle of m invention and have illustrated and described what Inow consider to represent its best embodiment.

bodies receiving the opposite ends of the compression member, the backwallsurface of each. body recess being spaced from the adjacent rearsurface ofsaid member, said spaced surfaces being inclined lengthwiserelative to each other to provide a space between them taperedlengthwise toward the adjacent end of the compression member, a taperedwedge driven into said space to hold the front wall of saidbody recesstightly against the front of saidmember, the outer end of the wedgeprojecting beyond the endof the compression member-and being bent overto lock the wedge in place, and means holding the brake heads againstmovement lengthwise of said memher.

2. A brake beam comprising a compression member, a tension rod in frontofsaid member having its endsconnected to the ends of the compressionmember, the opposite end portions of said member having upper and lowersurfaces that havesubstantially parallel areas terminating at theirinner ends in diverging areas, interchangeable brake heads having bodiesprovided with recesses extending entirely therethroughfor receiving theopposite ends of the compression member, the upper and lower walls ofeach body recess having substantially parallel central areas forengaging said parallel areas of. the compression member and havinoutwardly diverging end areas .for' engaging said diverging areas of thecompression member at either end thereof,.the back wall surface of eachbody recess being spaced from the adjacent rear surface of. said member.said spaced surfaces bein inclined. lengthwise relative to eachv otherto provide a tapered space between them, a tapered wedge driveninto saidspace tolheld the front wall of said body recess tightlyagainst thefront of said member and means holding thebrakeheads against movementlengthwise of the compression member.

.3. A brake beam comprisinga compression member, a tension rod in frontof said member 7 having its ends connected to the ends of thecompression member andproiecting a short distancefrom the back of it,brake heads having recessed bodies receiving the opposite ends of, theoempression member, the back wall surface of each body recess beingspaced from the adiacentirear surface of said member, said spacedsurfaces being inclined lengthwise relative to each other to provide atapered space between them, a bifurcated tapered wedge driven into saidspace astraddle of the adjacent projecting end of the tension rod tohold the front wall of said body recess tightly against the front ofsaid member, and means holding the brake heads against movementlengthwise of the compression member.

4. A brake beam comprising a compression member, a tension rod in frontof said member having its ends connected to the ends of the compressionmember, the rear surface of the compression member at each end thereofbeing inclined lengthwise relative to the front surface of said member,brake heads having recessed bodies receiving the opposite ends of thecompression member, the back wall of each body recess being spaced fromand inclined relative to the adjacent inclined rear surface of saidmember, a tapered wedge driven into the space between the back of thecompression member and each brake head to hold the front wall of itsbody recess tightly against the front of said member, and means holdingthe brake heads against movement lengthwise of the compression member.

5. A brake beam comprising a compression member, a tension rod in frontof said member having its ends connected to the ends of the compressionmember, each end portion of the compression member diverging laterallytoward the adjoining end of said member, brake heads having recessedbodies receiving said diverging end portions of the compression member,the back wall of each body recess being spaced from and inclinedrelative to the rear surface of the adjacent diverging end portion ofthe compression member, a tapered wedge driven into the space betweenthe back of the compression member and each brake head to hold the frontwall of its body recess tightly against the front of said member, andmeans holding the brake heads against movement lengthwise of thecompression member.

6. A brake beam comprising a channel shape compression member havingupper and lower flanges connected by a web, end portions of the webbeing removed to form slots extending en- 'tirely through thecompression member from front to back, a tension rod in front of saidmember having its ends projecting into the slots and rearwardlytherefrom, each end of the rod and said flanges above and below it beingprovided with aligned holes, a sleeve extending through said holes toconnect the rod and compression member together, brake heads havingrecessed bodies receiving the opposite ends of the compression member,the back wall surface of each body recess being spaced from the adjacentrear surface of the compression member above and below the adjacentslot, said spaced surfaces being inclined lengthwise relative to eachother to provide a tapered space between them, a bifurcated taperedwedge driven into said space astraddle of the projecting rod to hold thefront wall of said body recess tightly against the front of said member,and a fastening member extending through each of said bodies and theadjacent sleeve to hold the brake heads against movement lengthwise ofthe compression member.

'7. A brake beam comprising a channel shape compression member havingupper and lower flanges connected by a web, end portions of the webbeing removed to form slots extending entirely through the compressionmember from front to back, the portions of said flanges forming theupper and lower walls of the slots being thickened to reduce the heightof the slots, a tension rod in front of said member having its endsprojecting into the slots and rearwardly therefrom, each end of the rodand the adjoining thickened portions of the flanges being provided withaligned holes, a sleeve extending through said holes to connect the rodand compression member together, the rear surface of the compressionmember above and below said slots being inclined lengthwise relative tothe front surface of said member, interchangeable brake heads havingbodies provided with recesses extending entirely therethrough forreceiving the opposite ends of the compression member, the back wall ofeach body recess being spaced from and inclined relative to the adjacentinclined rear surface of the compression member to provide a taperedspace between them, a bifurcated tapered wedge driven into said spaceastraddle of the pro- .iecting rod to hold the front wall of said bodyrecess tightly against the front of said member, and. a fastening memberextending through each of said bodies and the adjacent sleeve to holdthe brake heads against movement lengthwise of the compression member.

8. A brake beam comprising a cambered compression member, a tension rodin front of said member having its ends connected to the ends of thecompression member to form a truss, the rear surface of the compressionmember at each end thereof being inclined lengthwise relative to thefront surface of said member, interchangeable brake heads having bodiesprovided with recesses extending entirely therethrough for receiving theopposite ends of the truss, the back wall of each body recess beingparallel lengthwise to its front wall and spaced from the adjacentinclined rear surface of the compression member, a tapered wedge driveninto the space between the back of the compression member and the brakehead to hold the front wall of said body recess tightly against thefront of the compression member, each brake head having a forwardlyopening horizontal slot extending transversely thereof for receivin abrake hanger yoke, the rear surface of said slot being inclined backwardand outward from its center toward both ends, and means holding thebrake heads against movement lengthwise of the compression member.

OSCAR OTTERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 707,105 Haskell Aug. 19, 1902955,239 Williams, Jr Apr. 19, 1910 957,399 Williams, Jr. May 10, 19102,398,918 Busch Apr. 23, 1946 2,446,341 Otterson Aug. 3, 1948

